Refrigerant evaporator



March 13, 1951 A. PHlLlPP 2,544,937

REFRIGERANT EVAPORATOR Filed July 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Lawzasmcs H. PHILIP? HTTQQN Y A March 13, 1951 L. A. PHILIPP REFRIGERANTEVAPORATOR 2 Shee1-, 2

Filed July 1947 ENTOzq, LQwRENcEH-Pmup QT N EV Patented Mar. 13, 1951REFRIGERANT EVAPORATOR Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich., assignor toNash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MarylandApplication July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,157

3 Claims. (01. 62-126) This invention relates generally to refrigeratingapparatus and more particularly to refrigerant evaporators therefor.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a refrigerantevaporator of simplified constructionto facilitate assembly of its partsand generally to reduce cost of evaporators without affecting theefliciency thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant evaporatorhaving improved heat exchange relation between a container and arefrigerant coil of the evaporator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant evaporatorhaving an improved arrangement of a storage container, refrigerantaccumulator and a refrigerant coil to effect efllcient heatabsorption.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a' top plan view of my improved refrigerant evaporator;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the refrigerant evaporator;

Fig. 3 is a view of a refrigerant system including an end view of myevaporator; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the evaporator.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 28designates generally, a refrigerant evaporator for use in a domestic orhousehold type of refrigerator. The evaporator 20 comprises, in general,a storage container 22, a container closure or cap 24, a refrigerantcoil 26 and a refrigerant accumulator 28. As shown, I wrap therefrigerant coil 26 around the body of the container 22 and mount theaccumulator 28, connected to the coil, on the cap 24.

The container 22 is preferably made of sheet steel, bent to form abox-like structure having a bottom wall 39, top wall 32 and side walls34. As shown, the cap 24 is fitted snugly over one end of the containerbody, forming the rear wall of the container. The cap 24 and thecontainer body may be welded or be otherwise suitably secured together.The front of the evaporator container 22 is open to provide access tothe interior thereof wherein ice trays and foods (not shown) may bestored. An outturned flange 38 surrounds the container access opening togive afinished appearance thereto; the flange 38 preferably being formedout of the sheet metal of the container body to increase rigidity of thecontainer.

Extending around the evaporator container 22, the refrigerant flow coil26 may be held against the outer surfaces of the container bottom wall38, top wall 32 and side walls 34 by spaced U-clips 40. These clips 40may be spot welded or be otherwise suitably secured to the walls of theevaporator container to hold the coil 26 in good heat exchangerelationship therewith. In order to insure eflicient heat absorptionfrom the container walls by the refrigerant passing through coil 26, Iprovide a container engaging, flat portion 42 on the coil longitudinallythereof to increase surface area contact between the coil and the wallsof the container (see Fig. 4). In contact with a side of the refrigerantcoil on the top of the container 22 is an end portion or bulb 44 of athermostat (not shown). The coil 26 and thermostat bulb 44 are attachedtogether and to the top wall 32 of the evaporator container by a pair ofmetal clips 45 which may be welded to the container 22 adjacent thecontainer cap 24.

The accumulator 28 is a metal conduit of U-shape having a loop portionfrom which legs extend in diverging relationship to each other. ThisU-shaped accumulator 28 is held against the outer surface of the cap 24by metal clips 66 which may be welded to the cap 24. Starting fromadjacent one side of the evaporator container 22, the accumulator orconduit 28 extends from its inlet end, as at 48, across the capupwardly,at a slight angle to the horizontal, to the loop portion of theaccumulator and then extends back across the cap at a slight angleupwardly, terminating at an outlet, designated by the numeral 58.

The refrigerant system may include a refrigerant motor-compressor unit52 and a refrigerant condenser 54. A capillary tube 56 suppliesrefrigerant from the condenser 54 to the inlet or upper end of theevaporator coil 26 which is located on the top wall 32 of the evaporatorcontainer. Refrigerant passes through the coil 26, absorbing heat fromthe walls of the evaporator container 22 and then passes into the lowerend of the accumulator 28, absorbing heat from the cap or rear wall ofthe evaporator. Gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the upper end ofthe accumulator 28 by the motor-compressor unit to which the gaseousrefrigerant returns through conduit 60. As shown in Fig. 3, a portion 62of the return conduit 68 is preferably arranged in contact with thecapillary tube 56 to cool liquid refrigerant.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that I have provided animproved evaporator of simplified, inexpensive construction in which acontainer proper has a coil wound therearound and a rear container capcarries a refrigerant accumulator. Also, I have provided an improvedevaporator of the above mentioned character having enlarged surfacecontact between the refrigerant coil and walls of the container.

Although only a preferred form of the inventionhas been illustrated, andthat form describedin detail, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various modificationsmay be made therein without departingfrom thespirit of the invention or from the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerant evaporator comprising, sheet material forming top,bottom and sides of a container, a refrigerant passage in heat exchangerelation with said sheet material, a closure member fitting over saidtop, bottom and sides forming the rear wall of the container, and arefrigerant accumulator carried by said closure member connected to saidrefrigerant passage.

2. A refrigerant evaporator comprising, sheet metal material formingtop, bottom and sides or a container, a cap closing the rear of thecontainer, a refrigerant coil wrapped around said container in contactwith the outer surface thereof having an end portion bent around one endof said container, and a conduit secured to the outer surface of saidcap forming a refrigerant accumulator connected to said refrigerant coilbent end portion.

3. In a refrigerant evaporator a supporting member having a rear wall,refrigerant flow passages in heat exchange relationship with saidsupporting member, a conduit forming an accumulator attached to saidrear wall, said conduit being U-shaped with its legs diverging from theloop of the U at acute and opposite angles to the horizontal and beingarranged in engagement with said rear wall, and means attaching one ofsaid legs to said refrigerant flow passage.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,847,546 Wishart Mar. 1, 19321,987,707 Replogle Jan. 15, 1935 2,136,249 Newman Nov. 8, 1938 2,248,607Cooper July 8, 1941 2,306,772 Benson Dec. 29, 1942 2,386,889 Furry Oct.16, 1945 2,413,233 Johnson Dec. 24, 1946 2,433,187 Alsing Dec. 23, 19472,451,744 Johnson Oct. 19, 1948 2,469,828 Johnson May 10, 1949

